Chronic pain can be debilitating, impacting your ability to perform everyday tasks. We understand the frustration and discomfort associated with chronic pain, leading us to offer resources for pain management in NYC. Dr. Stieber has selected top specialists that offer minimally-invasive options, like epidural steroid injections, to alleviate recurring pain.
When you are plagued with chronic pain, corticosteroid injections into the epidural space of the spine can relieve pain. The injections work by reducing inflammation in the area, alleviating some of the pressure in the area, including the affected nerves. You are given a local anesthetic to numb the injection site, and then an x-ray is used to guide the injection process.
An epidural steroid injection, also known as ESI, is a procedure where corticosteroids are placed into the epidural space, with the aid of x-ray guidance, to reduce the inflammation caused by:
Epidural injections are most commonly used to treat pain occurring in the lower back, leg, neck, or arm. After an injury, treatment often begins conservatively with NSAIDs, physical therapy, and/or chiropractic care. When these treatments fail to alleviate a patient's symptoms completely, ESI's can be considered after a thorough evaluation. Patients may require anywhere from 1 to 3 injections, based on their response, to reduce the inflammation around the spinal nerves and alleviate a patient's symptoms.
Epidural injections are generally well-tolerated with few side effects. Some patients may experience temporary discomfort at the injection site that should resolve after a few hours. Medication side effects are rare but are possible since a corticosteroid will be injected. Allergic reactions are possible but allergies to medications will be discussed prior to the procedure to avoid unwanted reactions.
Any residual pain near the injection site can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers or an ice pack. You can return to work or other activities the next day
Choosing Dr. Jonathan Stieber to help you manage chronic pain with epidural injections means choosing one of the top spine surgeons in New York. He is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with fifteen years of experience in spine surgery and pain management. To add to his credibility, Dr. Stieber currently serves as a Director of the Spine Center at OrthoManhattan and an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU School of Medicine. Because of excellence in results and patient satisfaction, Dr. Stieber has been named a New York Magazine Best Doctor for 2021 and Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 2022.
At Dr. Stieber's Advanced Back and Spine Care, our focus is patient safety and comfort when performing epidural injections. Dr. Stieber has hand-selected top providers in the field who specialize in pain management treatment to help you with any treatment options necessary. Contact us today to learn more about our procedures and how epidural injections in New York can help you.
You may feel pressure or some discomfort at the injection site during the treatment. Prior to treatment, the area will be numbed with topical anesthetic to make you more comfortable during the procedure. Most patients experience few negative side effects, and often experience significant pain relief a few days following the injections. In some cases, IV sedation will also be offered to make the procedure a more pleasant experience.
It is generally not recommended to receive epidural injections more than a few times each year. If you find that epidural injections are only providing short-term benefits, it is better to consider potential surgical techniques in order to alleviate your pain.
